180gr bullets in M1A BAD???
Marty Olsen
more experienced shooters told me *not* to shoot 180 grain bullets
out of my M1A. (He said it is really bad for the action.)
Is this sort of an "urban legend" or is there any truth to
it. It just strikes me as odd, since the most common bullet weight
for match rifles is the ol' 168 HPBT. An additional 12 grains isn't
even a 10% increase... (More bearing surface??)
BTW, the reason I want to shoot 'em is for deer hunting.
Thanks!
--
Martin P. Olsen ol...@gilbert.geology.yale.edu
**If you do not receive reply w/in 2 days, try again (screwy system)**
The terms "Sporting Purpose" and "Hunting" are nowhere to be
seen in the Second Amendment. I checked twice.
Bart Bobbit
bullets have been shot from M1As and M14s. As long as peak pressure
is within maximum limits and port pressure is likewise, there will
be no problem at all.
BB
Paul Perez
: I was at a high power match this weekend and one of the
: Thanks!
In general, the M1A's short barrel length doesn't suit itself too well
for heavy bullets, >= 170grs or so. Particularly if the rifling twist
is on the slow side, 1:12" or 1:11".
I like to shoot the lightest bullet/mildest load I can get away with
in a service rifle. With so many moving parts (and with M1A's, cast
receivers), the less battering, the better.
Now, I've seen Army shooters shoot 180-gr loads out of M14 receivers.
Fairly hot loads. I mean, you could hear those rifles SING. But, as
Bart likes to say, military shooters have 3 service rifles: the one on
the firing line, the backup rifle, and the one being worked over by the
team armorer :-)
You have to shoot a 180-gr bullet at the same velocity or faster than
a 168-gr bullet in order to receive any increase in wind drift resistance.
I'd rather pick a load that's accurate at 600 yards, and learn to dope it
well.
I think M1 Garands have a slight advantage over M1A's given the new DCM
rules allowing handloads. 2" longer barrel, forged receiver. With the
right twist, 180's aren't a problem, and I've even shot old Air Force/
Navy 190-gr loads in 1:11" twist Garands at 600 yards. I wouldn't do
it every day, though.
-Paul
William Glover
: That `experienced' shooter is also ignorant. Thousands of 180-gr.
: bullets have been shot from M1As and M14s. As long as peak pressure
: is within maximum limits and port pressure is likewise, there will
: be no problem at all.
Have loaded 147, 165, 168, and 180 grains for M1 and M1A. There
is no problem with any of these, as long as you load standard
factory and pressure loads. Otherwise, the action may not
function correctly.
The slow twist of the M1A apppears to favor the 147 and 165 grain
loads, but your mileage may vary.
For me, the 165 grain Speer has been an excellent hunting and
target load.
Bill
Keith Hudson
#From: ba...@hpfcla.fc.hp.com (Bart Bobbit)
#Subject: Re: 180gr bullets in M1A BAD???
#Date: 15 Nov 1994 10:15:51 -0500
#That `experienced' shooter is also ignorant. Thousands of 180-gr.
#bullets have been shot from M1As and M14s. As long as peak pressure
#is within maximum limits and port pressure is likewise, there will
#be no problem at all.
#BB
180 grain bullets are not a problem, and I think the "warning" you heard was
actually "don't shoot FACTORY rounds with bullets over 180 grains in the M1
and M1A/M14". This is apparently true, since the near maximum loads used are
not based on these rounds being fired in M1 and M1A gas systems. Information
from ammunition makers indicate they use powders in heavy .30-06 and .308
loads that are not very compatible with these rifles gas systems. We have
tried match handloads using 150, 168, 173, 180, and 190 in the group of
friends I shoot highpower with, and found best accuracy was obtained using the
168 and 180 grain BTHP match bullets from Sierra or Hornady (173 were GI match
ammo pullouts, not as good a bullet as the commercial HP). The 190 did not
perform as well...
Keith
______________________________________________________________
Keith Hudson hud...@ualr.edu
Associate Professor hud...@eivax.ualr.edu
N5EEZ mkhu...@ualr.edu
______________________________________________________________
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Departments of Applied Science and Chemistry
______________________________________________________________
David Post
>180 grain bullets are not a problem, and I think the "warning" you heard was
>actually "don't shoot FACTORY rounds with bullets over 180 grains in the M1
>and M1A/M14". This is apparently true, since the near maximum loads used are
>not based on these rounds being fired in M1 and M1A gas systems. Information
Could it be that factory rounds use powder that burns too slowly, which
causes too high a pressure and overstress on the operating rod?
I seem to remember something about this posted a couple years ago.
David Post po...@fc.hp.com
Bart Bobbit
: Could it be that factory rounds use powder that burns too slowly, which
: causes too high a pressure and overstress on the operating rod?
That may well be the situation.
BB